BLUFF ROAD AT KUAOTUNU

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 57, Issue 3981, 14 April 1948, Page 9

BLUFF ROAD AT KUAOTUNU

(To the Editor) Sir, —“ Rumour ever was a lying jade,” but, “ There’s aye some water where a stirkie droons.” Rumour has it that a hidden hand is attempting to close the scenic Bluff road at Kuaotunu and open up the old u Mindermanns ” road. Being more than passing familiar with both roads I feel it incumbent on me to make some points on the matter known to councillors and ratepayers alike, particularly Kuaotunu ratepayers, all vdth whom I spoke being opposed to the new idea.

The distances were approximately the same. Heavy flooding occurs in several places on “ Mindermanns ” road, as against none on the Bluff road as the bridges are at tiddi water. The same number of bridges would be required and they would be subject to flooding. The cost of culvert pipes alone would be considerably more than the cost of the bulldozing should be. The new idea would create a great fire hazard to the big belt of ugly erosion scarred country, through which it passes. This area will be reafforestated.

It would not open up one acre of farm land that has not already got road frontage to the best advantage. On the contrary, it would isolate two occupied farms and the tremendously potentially valuable Mataurangi beach and flat. While admitting the urgent necessity for a new bridge at the Mapouriki I contend that that can best be made to serve the whole district by being built about ten chains up-stream thus obviating the necessity for the present long filling. One can hardly credit that, with its long experience with isolated farms, the council would deliberately do that which would create for itself a fresh set of problems and deny the public access to one of the county’s scenic gems. But, as in this case, ignorance would not be bliss, I only hope that the above may serve to direct the necessary attention and pressure on this rumoured project so that it will be stifled in its infancy before any money I is wasted on it. —Yours, etc., I THOS. E. SIMPSON, I Kaingaroa. i